It’s summer. You’re on your boat, enjoying the pleasant sea breeze and soaking up the sun high in the sky. It’s refreshing at first, but this prolonged exposure to the elements soon starts to affect your skin and could cause a sunstroke.
This is why you should consider purchasing a boat umbrella. It’s possibly one of the most important accessories for your boat. It’s not like the traditional ones. It’s much larger, offers more coverage, and endures strong winds.
The world of boat umbrellas is enormous. Some can be adjusted to fit the sun’s direction. Some offer amazing protection against UV rays. There are even some umbrellas that come with excellent mounting kits that guarantee they won’t be blown away.
For this reason, we’re here with a couple of recommendations that can put things into perspective. Here’s a quick list of our top picks for the best boat umbrella:
Which Boat Umbrella Do You Buy?
There’s no need to feel overwhelmed when you’re looking for a boat umbrella. We have a few recommendations that feature some of the top suggested umbrellas from boat lovers.
Best Budget: Sport-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella
Available in two sizes (Regular and XL), the Sport-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella is incredibly flexible. You can use it anywhere thanks to its universal clamp that allows you to attach it to pretty much any surface.
With a lining made from UPF 50+, this boat umbrella blocks UV rays and allows just enough to pass without exposing you to any risk.
Best Protection: Taylor Made Anchorshade III
The Taylor Made Anchorshade III is an incredibly versatile boat umbrella, which makes it one of the best for marine activities. This lightweight umbrella is made from marine-quality nylon that blocks 85-95% of UV rays.
It’s available in 10 colors, so you’ll be able to match it with your boat. The canopy is mildew-resistant and the shaft is powder-coated. This means that it’ll be protected from any harsh weather.
The Taylor Made Anchorshade III is one of the strongest boat umbrellas with its non-corrosive hardware and its fantastic mounting mechanism.
Best Durability: Magma Products, B10-405 Cockpit Umbrella
Created to withstand harsh weather, the Magma B10-405 Cockpit Umbrella is designed in a way that doesn’t let it revert in the face of the wind. The canopy is made from nylon, and it has a UV-blocking coating.
This corrosion-resistant umbrella won’t erode nor degrade under the sun, rain, or saltwater. Thanks to its extraordinary mounting system, it can be set up anywhere on your boat. It comes with four straps which provide additional strength and ensure that it won’t blow away.
The Magma B10-405 Cockpit Umbrella can be set up on any vertical or horizontal railing.
Best High-End: Taylor Made Products Easy-Up Gazebo Shade Top
Another Taylor Made product, the Easy-Up Gazebo Shade Top is an umbrella made specifically for pontoon boats. If your boat has similar dimensions to a pontoon, you can definitely use this umbrella.
One of the widest umbrellas in this list, it’s between 96 and 102 inches wide. It’ll provide the most coverage any boat umbrella can offer. It’s made from polyester which makes it lightweight. This doesn’t compromise its strength at all.
The Easy-Up Gazebo Shade Top comes with a storage bag. It’s recommended that you don’t drive with it set up because it may block your vision.
What to Look for in a Boat Umbrella
You want a boat umbrella that’ll offer optimum protection from the elements, can endure harsh weather, and fits your boat’s size and aesthetics.
We’ll look at some essential factors that’ll help us navigate the market of boat umbrellas.
Which Material to Choose
The material of the canopy and the shaft are what makes or breaks the boat umbrella.
The Canopy
Polyester
Polyester is a hydrophobic fabric. This characteristic ensures that it won’t wear out because of mildew or saline water. Moreover, because its fibers aren’t elastic, they disrupt UV rays. That’s why its protection from UV rays is unparalleled.
Another benefit of polyester boat umbrellas is that they’re wind-resistant. They create a barrier that doesn’t allow wind to penetrate.
Nylon
Nylon is an extremely durable material. It’s waterproof, wind-resistant, and UV protective. Its fibers are woven so tightly that water can’t penetrate them. They’re excellent umbrellas in extreme weather as well. Wind and UV rays can’t permeate through the fabric.
The Shaft
Steel
Top-notch boat umbrellas are made from marine-quality stainless steel. It’s made from top-quality materials that make it corrosion-resistant and sturdy. Make sure that your steel rod is powder-coated. This’ll ensure that it doesn’t rust.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an amazing material for shafts as well. It’s light and rust-resistant. It won’t deteriorate from the constant exposure to sunlight and saltwater.
Unfortunately, aluminum is known to bend easily. That’s why you’ll find that many umbrella shafts made from a mix of stainless steel and aluminum.
Size
Canopy Size
You should make sure that the size of your boat is compatible with the size of the umbrella. You don’t want to end up buying an umbrella that’s too big or too small for your boat. Most manufacturers will offer multiple sizes for the same model.
Shaft Size
If your boat is already equipped with a rod holder or you’ve bought and installed your rod holder, you want to make sure that the shaft (or the rod) fits into it.
Adjustability
An adjustable boat umbrella allows you to fold the pole, so you can store it hassle-free.
Another feature to look for in adjustable boat umbrellas is the push-button tilt mechanism. It allows you to move the canopy in whichever direction without moving the entire umbrella.
This feature becomes a disadvantage in high winds. The adjustability feature makes the boat umbrella less wind-resistant.
Guaranteed Durability
Finding a boat umbrella to get your money’s worth is crucial. One factor that guarantees that is durability. Surprisingly, not all umbrellas will be able to endure harsh weather.
A durable umbrella shaft should be made from marine-quality steel or aluminum. They’re both two of the strongest metals which guarantee that the umbrella won’t bend or erode.
Canopies made from polyester and nylon will give you wonderful protection against weather elements. These materials ensure that your umbrella remains intact for many years to come.
Let’s Talk Quality
Fortunately, there are numerous boat umbrellas that are of good quality and offer many functions within budget. Even those that are made from top-quality materials are great value for money. You won’t ever regret going for them.
Boat umbrellas that are made from marine-grade stainless steel or aluminum are among the sturdiest umbrellas you can find. They’ll often have canopies made from nylon or polyester.
One good example of a high-quality boat umbrella is the Seamander 3-4 Bow Bimini Boat Top Cover. It’s made from heavy-duty aluminum and marine-grade waterproof fabric. It’s durable, corrosion-free, and mildew-free.
But if your hands are tight in terms of budget, a boat umbrella like the Taylor Made Triangular Sailshade is superb. It provides protection from UV rays, and its mounting kit is made from heavy-duty stainless steel.
Aesthetics
When buying a boat umbrella, its quality and practicality are two important factors to consider. Once that’s out of the way, you should start looking for the one that goes in style with your boat.
Every time you open your umbrella, you want the overall appeal of your boat to match. Look for the one that matches your stylistic preferences and your boat’s color scheme.
In Conclusion
People who love to spend summer on boats enjoy doing many activities. Whether these activities are lively or languid, boat umbrellas are there to give you the shade and protection that you need to have a good time.
Incessant exposure to the sun’s UV rays can be very harmful. The American Cancer Society notes that UV rays can cause sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and even weaken the immune system. One way to avoid that is to take shelter in the shade.
According to a study published in JAMA Dermatology, even the poorest quality umbrella can still block up to 77% of UV rays. Darker umbrellas do an even better job, blocking UV rays to up to 90%. As we’ve seen with boat umbrellas, many are designed specifically to block as many UV rays as possible. Now, you can savor your time on your boat worry-free and in style.